Iowa to play in Bahamas instead of Alaska

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa men's basketball team has ditched Alaska in favor of the Bahamas.

The Hawkeyes announced Thursday that they've pulled out of the Great Alaska Shootout and will instead play in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament on Paradise Island in the Bahamas from Nov. 28-30.

The move should add strength to Iowa's non-conference schedule. The field for the Bahamas also includes Kansas, Tennessee, Villanova, USC, Wake Forest, UTEP and Xavier. The Great Alaska Shootout brackets are filled mostly with mid-major programs like Indiana State and Pepperdine.

The Hawkeyes hurt their NCAA tournament chances last season by playing a soft non-conference slate. But Iowa will play at Iowa State, host an undetermined ACC school and play in the more prestigious Bahamas tourney next year.